Professor Mawutor Avoke, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) has revealed that the report by the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) clearing him of any wrong doing vindicates his long held innocence.

EOCO has cleared Professor Avoke and five others over any wrongdoing following their dismissal last year over reports of procurement breaches and administrative abuses.

But speaking publicly about the development for the first time, he disclosed on Accra-based Citi Fm that he has always maintained he did not abuse his office or engage in any illegality to warrant his dismissal from office by the governing council of the University insisting that the issues raised against him were just a way meant to get him out of office by ‘hook or crook’.

“It is not surprising as you would probably would have known we have always maintained our innocence at every public forum we have spoken. We have always indicated that we have done no wrong and that this was just a mischievous agenda to get us out of office. So if EOCO today exonerates all the six of us, it is consistent with the position we have always held that we are innocent, we have not breached any procurement regulations as far as the rules are concerned”, he disclosed.

According to him, he has always believed that truth is immaculate and has been proven right that after EOCO examined the claims made against them and they feel exonerated.

Background

It would be recalled that MyNewsGh.com reported how the Former Vice Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba Professor Mawutor Avoke and four others were recently dismissed based on recommendations by the governing council of the university but the accused persons maintain their sack was politically motivated and lacked basis.

Professor Mawutor Avoke, the Finance Officer, Dr. Theophilus Senyo Ackorlie, Daniel Tetteh, Mary Dzimey and Frank Owusu Boateng denied any wrongdoing and that they have not been found guilty by any court of competent jurisdiction over claims of procurement breaches and abuse of office.

“As individuals, we have not been taken to any court and no charges have been brought against us. We have also not appeared before any court or been heard by any court on any charges. It is not true that the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mawutor Avoke and the Finance Officer, Dr. Theophilus Senyo Ackorlie were found guilty of procurement or financial malfeasance by any court”, the disclosed in a statement.

Meanwhile, Very Reverend Father Professor A. Afful-Broni, PhD was subsequently appointed in an acting capacity and confirmed by the same council and sworn into office as the substantive Vice-Chancellor of UEW but currently in a turf war with both lecturers and students.